Main Event
Day 2 Completed
2019 Ante Up Poker Tour Tampa Bay Downs
Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2019 Ante Up Poker Tour Tampa Bay Downs
Buy-in
$250
Entries
443
Level
29
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
100,000
Level 29
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
The 2019 Ante Up Poker Tour Tampa Bay Downs $250 Main Event attracted 443 entries over five starting flights – which surpassed the $60K GTD by creating an $89,503 prize pool – and on Sunday, 60-year-old Larry Negron, a regular at Tampa Bay Downs, was named champion after a three-way deal with Bill Melms and Landon Brown.
As the winner of Main Event, Negron, who won his way in via a $65 satellite investment, won $14,070 and will appear on the cover of Ante Up Magazine’s March issue. For finishing runner-up, Melms was awarded $13,958 while Landon Brown finished third for $12,990 plus a $1,650 prize package to the 2019 Ante Up World Championship Main Event.
Negron took up the game 10 years ago after he saw it on television and had his son teach him the rules at the kitchen table.
Final Table Payouts
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Larry Negron | United States | $14,070* |
| 2nd | Bill Melms | United States | $13,958* |
| 3rd | Landon Brown | United States | $12,990 + $1,650 package* |
| 4th | Joao Figueiredo | United States | $6,601 |
| 5th | Donald Brown | United States | $4,978 |
| 6th | Troy Bercot | United States | $3,810 |
| 7th | Anthony Dianaty | United States | $2,959 |
| 8th | Donnie Kidman | United States | $2,331 |
| 9th | Hyndi Khomutetsky | United States | $1,862 |
| 10th | Neil Lawson | $1,507 |
*denotes three-way deal.
Day 2 saw 79 players return to action but with only 45 of them slated to get paid 34 of them would leave empty handed including Brian Torok, Steve Rauchut, and James Wood, just to name a few.
Once Pat Buckley busted in 46th place, the result of his Big Slick failing to get there against Mike Taylor’s pocket queens, the in-the-money bustouts came quick. Among those to cash were WPTDeepstacks champ Anthony Astarita (14th - $1,237), Day 1e chip leader Ben Brown (17th - $1,029), Matt Quirk (26th - $640), Leif Oskarsson (32nd - $497), Marv “Duckman” Karlins (38th - $405), and Melissa Morvay (45th - $405).
Final Table Action
Neil Lawson was the first to fall from the final table after his ace-jack lost to Donald "Doc" Brown’s ace-seven, a result of a seven appearing on the flop. Day 1b chip leader Hyndi Khomutetsky followed him out the door in ninth after losing an all-in preflop flip holding tens against Joao Figueiredo’s ace-king, and then Donnie Kidman lost a race of his own pocket jacks to Brown’s ace-queen suited.
Troy Bercot busted out in sixth when he shoved a flop with bottom pair only to have Melms check-call with top pair. Bercot failed to get lucky and had to settle for $3,810 in prize money.
Doc Brown, the Day 1c chip leader, fell after getting it in with king-jack against Melms’ ace-jack, and Figueiredo bowed out in fourth place after dwindling down and shoving with queen-three, which did not improve against Landon Brown’s ace-ten.
Not long after the final three players struck the deal that would end the tournament. To solidify it, Brown agreed to throw $500 to each of his opponents for the Ante Up package.
The next Ante Up Poker Tour Main Event, which will also be live reported by PokerNews, will be the Ante Up Spring Poker Classic at Vee Quiva in Laveen, Arizona from March 23-31.
Level 29
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
After nearly 12 hours of play, the final three players have finally come to an agreement on an ICM deal. As it works out, Larry Negron will be declared the champion and will take home the largest sum of money of $14,070 along with the trophy. Bill Melms was awarded $13,958, while Landon Brown will take home $12,990. Brown will also be credited with the $1,650 Ante Up Poker Tour package but will have to throw $500 to each of his opponents.
With the tournament coming to an end, a full recap will be posted shortly.
Level 29
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Larry Negron raised to 300,000 from the small blind and Bill Melms called from the big.
Negron bet another 300K on the 
flop, Melms called, and then both players checked the 
turn.
Negron checked again on the 
river and tank-folded to a bet of 600K from Melms on the river.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
4,100,000
-800,000
|
-800,000 |
|
4,000,000
740,000
|
740,000 |
Level 29
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Landon Brown raised to 200,000 on the button and was called by Larry Negron in the small blind and Bill Melms in the big blind. The flop came 
and the action checked to Brown who continued for 250,000. Negron folded and Melms moved all in for 1,280,000. Brown made a quick call and the cards were on their backs.
Bill Melms: 
Landon Brown: 
Melms currently held the best hand with top pair but had to fade Brown's combo draw. The 
on the turn and the 
on the river were good enough as Melms scored a double up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,260,000
1,560,000
|
1,560,000 |
|
2,840,000
-1,720,000
|
-1,720,000 |
Level: 29
Blinds: 50,000/100,000
Ante: 100,000
Level 28
: 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
The final three players are now on a scheduled 10-minute break.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,900,000
750,000
|
750,000 |
|
|
4,560,000
-340,000
|
-340,000 |
|
|
1,700,000
-520,000
|
-520,000 |
Level 28
: 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Larry Negron raised to 180,000 in the small blind and Bill Melms called from the big blind. The flop came 
and Negron led out for 250,000 which Melms called.
The 
paired the board on the turn and Negron opted to check this time. Melms slid in a bet of 500,000 and Negron called. The river was the 
and both players knuckled the table. Negron showed 
and that was enough to earn him the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,150,000
1,100,000
|
1,100,000 |
|
|
2,220,000
-1,020,000
|
-1,020,000 |
Level 28
: 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
The short-stacked Joao Figueiredo moved all in for 310,000 under the gun and Landon Brown isolated with a three-bet to 530,000 from the button. Both blinds folded and the cards were turned up.
Brown: 
Figueiredo: 
Figueiredo held two live cards but he failed to get any help as the board ran out 
to improve Brown to a straight.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,900,000
530,000
|
530,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 28
: 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Landon Brown raised to 175,000 on the button and Bill Melms three-bet to 400,000 from the big blind. Brown called and the flop came 
. Melms led out for 600,000 and Brown called.
The turn brought the 
and both players checked to the on the river. Melms checked again and Brown slid in a bet of 1,000,000. Melms thought for a minute but then flicked his cards to the muck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,370,000
1,755,000
|
1,755,000 |
|
|
3,240,000
-1,260,000
|
-1,260,000 |